sickles



Lb e e h S v s t e Dv h s 4 r... .J S, E L K C I S G ,u d .o M o m MACHINE POR MAKING ENVBLOPES.

Patented Jan. 30. 1883.y

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. SIGKLES, Jr.

MACHINE POR MAKING ENVELOPES.

N0. 271,282. Patented Ja11.30, 1883.

i@ y I i6/@ww y (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. SIGKLES, Jr.

MACHINE FOR MAKING ENVELOPBS.

am@ Sw- @um Patented Jan. 30, 18813.

N, FEYERS. Pima-Lithograph, wan-ingle". D C.

(No Mpdel.) 4 Sheets--Sheet 4.

' G; SICKLES, Jr.

MAGHXNE PUR MAKING B1\I\7EL0P13S.v No. 271,282.v Patented 11511.30, 188,3.

Fig. 1U.

N PETERS Phato-mhggnphcr. wnhmgwn. D. C.

FFlCFt UNTTED' STATES PATENT GERARD SlOKLES, JR., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ABEL T. HOWARD, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING ENVELOPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,282, dated January 30, 1883.

Application tiled February 23, 1831. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: The operative mechanism is mounted upon Be it known that I, GERARD SICKLEs, Jr., a suitable table or frame, A, and takes the a citizen of the United States, residing at envelope-blank at one end, carries it through llirooklyn, Kings county, New York, have into the other end, performing the necessary op- 5 vented certain Improvements in Machines for erations on it in transit, and delivers it fin- 55 Making Envelopes, of which the following is ished. y a siieciiication. B is a platform, upon which is placed the My invention relates to that class of mapile of envelope-blanks O. This platform is chilies which are employed for making envelupheld normally by springs a a, which feed up ro opes, bags, or receptacles of paper and simithe platform as fast as the blanks are taken 6o lar materials, this machine being designed ott' the top by the pneumatic separator. The primarily 'for folding and gumming paper pile of blanksisproperly placed and registered blanks to form letter-envelopes. by means of adjustable guides b b, and the The novel features of the invention will be topmost blank is pressed upward against x5 set forth in the claims. 'mechanism which will be hereinafterdescribed. 65

My machine performs ve distinct opera The topmost blank is separated from the tions automatically and successively in the pile or individualized by means of the followformation of the envelopesthat is to say, it ing-described mechanism: Over the diamondiirst "individualizesi the blank or separates shaped blank and near the front angle (which 2o it from the pack, then folds over the end naps., is to form the sealing-flap) is a presser-foot, c, 7o then applies the gum for securing the bottom (best shown in Fig. 5,) arranged to playin hap to the end flaps, then folds down the botfixed vertical guides or keepers, and to be tom tiap, and, finally, folds the top or scaling pressed down upon the blank by means ot' nap. toggle-links d d', actuated at the proper m0- 25 The mechanism whereby Iaccomplish these ment by a cam, c, Fig. l, on a shaft arranged 75 successive operations l will now describe with transversely under the bbd of the machine,

reference to the accompanying drawings, in through a lever,j", and connecting-rod g.

which- By referring to Fig. 2 it will be Aseen that Figure l is a side elevation of the operative when the link cl has reached a vertical or 3o parts ofthe machine, some portions being in nearly vertical position the foot c will have 8o section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical midbeen pressed firmly down upon the blank,the section of the machine, looking in the oppoupward pressure ot' the springs a a being 0psite direction from the view in Fig. l, the. lsecposed to the downward pressure ot' the foot; tion heilig taken on line 2 2 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 but the cam e is arranged to swing the toggler 35 is a plan ot' the machine. Figs. t and 5 are link forward a little farther, whereby, while it 85 enlarged detail views, the first showing the will not further materially, depress the foot c, mechanism for operating the gumming-roll it will strike the end of a rod, h, which passes and the latter the pneumatic mechanism for obliqu`ely4 through the foot, and drive it forseparating the blanks. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 ward. rlhe front end of this rod impinges 4o are enlarged sectional views of the mechanism against a sucker77 or nozzle, i, hinged to the 9o for folding the bottom flap, the several views projecting toe of the foot c and upheld norillustrating the position ofthe folder at differmally by a rctracting-spring, j. This nozzle ent stages ot' the operation. Figs. l0 and 1l is connected by a tube or pipe, L', partly ilexiare enlarged detail views of the roll for pressble, with a cylinder, l, (shown in section iu 45 ing down the bottom flap. These views will Fig. 1,) in which plays a piston, from whicha 95 be referred to more particularly hereinafter. rod, m, extends to and presses against a cam,

In the drawings I haveshown the machine n, on the same shaft with the cam e. inthe act of performing its functions, and l On the stem of the rod m is a spring, 0, will describe the mechanism together with the which serves to keep the end of the rod pressed n 5o operation as far as possible. normally up to the cam, which is in the form roo" Q i aan,

of a volute, and has a radial shoulder or offset, as clearly shown.

The Canis e and n being set to perform their functions in unison, it follows that at the in'- stant the presser-foot is firmly seated on the blank and the nozzle 'i depressed the piston in the cylinder Z, which has been driven to the forward end of the cylinder, is suddenly retracted by the spring o, this result being effected by the end of the rod m slipping off the shoulder or offset on the cam n. The sudden retraction of the piston in the cylinder'l exhausts the air from the tube leading to the nozzle or sucker t', and causes the topmost blank to adhere to the latter by atmospheric pressure. At this moment the cam e ceases to act upon the leverf, and the springj is permitted to lil't the nozzle z', which turns on its hinge and bends or defieots the angle or corner of the blank upward. The pressure ofthe foot o upon the blanks has also a tendency to slightly separate those blanks nearest the top at the angle and prevent more than one from being lifted by the nozzle.

At the instant following the lifting` of the blank by the nozzle a separating finger or guard,p, springs forward under the corner of the lifted blank and over the pile of blanks, so as to be in readiness to hold down the pile When the presser-foot lifts. This finger is mounted on a cross-shaft, q, Fig. 3, and tothe,

end of this shaft is fixed a short crank, from which a rod, r, extends back to the cam u, its extremity being normally pressed up to said cam by' means of a suitable spring, s. around the shaft g. As the end of the rod r bears upon the cam just above or in front of the piston-rod m, it follows that the shoulder of the camy will pass it an instant after the corner of the blank is lifted and allow the finger to be thrown forward at the proper time. To give the finger p a nearly horizontal. movement to and fro, l provide it with a heel, p', which f plays in a suitable keeper in the table or frame, and hang the finger by a pinto a crankarm on the shaft q, as clearlyl shown in Fig. 5.

As before stated, the cam e has now ceased to act upon the presser-foot, and this latter will be liftedby means of a suitable retracting.

spring, t, (best shown in Fig. 5,) thus separating the topmost blank from the pile which is now held down by the finger p. To release the blank from the nozzlet' when the latter is lifted by theliftin g ofthe presser-foot, I provide a finger, f', attached to some fixed part of the table and arranged to push the blank off as the foot'lifts. The fingerp also begins to rei cede slowly under the influence of the cam n.

At the moment the blank is released by the nozzle it is borne forward by a carrier, which I will now describe. This carrier is a.v plate, u, arranged to reciprocate under guides o o, raised a little above the general level of the table-bed or frame A. To the plate u are affixed arms w, and the extremities of these arms are connected by links x with crank-arms y on across- QEEB shaft, a; and tothe projecting end of this shaft is affixed a crank-arm, d, which is connected by a link or rod, b', with a short crank, c', on the shaft d2, which bears the cams e and n. Rotation of this crank c gives to the carrier u a horizontal reciprocating motion on its supports or guides n. The carrier moves forward under the lifted blank, and fingers e on its front edge engage the edge of the blank and carry it forward. As the blank is carried forward its angular rear edge strikes upon the beveled or inclined faces of guides g', secured adjustably to the table, and these act to adjust and slightly retard it and to raise it slightly, so that its angle or corner may enter between the carrying-belt and a bearing-roll, h', at exactly the right time. To understand the function of these guides, it must be borne in mind that to insure the proper registry ot' the blank with the gumming roll the blank must be kept up to the-fingers e', and should the blankfrom any cause be drawn away from said fingers or be slightly awry the guides g g will exert retarding force enough to replace it.

D is a broad endless belt or apron, which passes around two rolls or drums, E E, mounted on shafts d2 and i', which have bearings in the main frame A. The latter shaft bears, by preference, the driving-pulleyjofthe machine. The'apron D travels horizontally over the table-bed, as indicated by the arrows, and on it rests the roller h. one end of a frame, F, and in the other end of said frame is mounted another or driving roller, lc', which rests at all times upon the apron D, and is driven thereby. The two rollers hand 7c are connected by a cord belt, l', which rests in a circumferential groove in each. The forward end of the frame F, bearing the roller h',

is hung in asliding` frame, m', arranged to play up and down in fixed guides or keepers, so that the roller L may be lifted vslightly above the apron D at the propermoment. 1t is lifted by means of a cam (not shown) on the shaft d2, which, at the right moment, lifts a toe, n', which takes under a crank on the end of a cross-shaft, g', which extends across the frame in', and has bearings in the fixed guides or keepers before mentioned. The shaft q is flattened on one side where it rests in its bearings, and it rests normally with its liattened faces down; but when the cam lifts the toe n and the shaft is rotated the rounded parts of the shaft are turned down, and the frame m', with the roller h,is lifted slightly from the apron D. In this elevated position it stands when the advanced corner or angle of the blank is passed between it and the apron by the carrier u.

The carrier moves the biank with the same speed that the apron D travels, and inserts its advanced corner or angle under the roller l1. aiconsiderable distance just as the latter is allowed to fall upon it. rlo prevent the friction of the apron D from starting the blank from the carrier prematurely, which it might do, I provide a leaf spring or springs, r', attached This roller is mounted in ICO IOS

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to some xed part of the table, and arranged to press gently on the blank as it is carried along. 1

The object in arranging the roller h to hang suspended over the apron, but at the same time revolving, is that the corner ofthe blank drop on it'and press it down to the traveling apron D, and it is borne back to the folding` mechanism, which I will now describe.

The guides i: o, before referred to, are placed wide enough apart to form folding-blades for the. end iiaps of the blank, their outer edges being on the line ofthe fold, and they extend back over the apron D, thespace betweenthe two heilig just sufficient to .permit the blank to move along freely. The rear ends of these blades are secured tol the inner ends of gooseneck77 supports G,.mounted on the table and arranged to arch over so as to leave a clear space for the end iiaps to turn in. goose-necks are secired plates shaped so as to form folders o' o for turning the end iiaps of the blank over on the folding-blades as the blank is borne along. This device would turn the flaps, but to insure against excessive friction between the stationary folders and the blank and avoid one end of the blank being retarded Amore than another from this causea difficulty to he apprehended when the paper ofthe blank is thin and iiexible-I provide narrow endless belts H El, arranged to pass over suitable idler-sheaves, I I, and over the main apron D, as shown. These belts pass through the convolutions of the folders 0 o', which are made extra large to admit of their passage and press upon the upper side of the folded flaps, thus assisting to bear the blank along. With the apron D bearing upon the underface ot' the blank and the belts H upon the upper faces of the iiaps, and both apron and belts traveling at the same speed, it will be seen that the only retarding friction onthe blank will come from the folding-blades, and this will be practically nothing. In this arrangement the belts B must of necessity twist once in passing through the folders, and I give them a second twist at o to bring them back again properly, as will be well understood; or they might be twisted once and then sewed. These belts are spread apart under the machine by properly arranging the pulleys I l so that the envelopes may fall between themwhen folded and dropped. Theblank, having passed through the folders o o', has its end iiaps folded down and-passes next to the gumming-roll J, which is provided With raised angular impr nting-faces s', arranged to receive the paste or gum from a feed or doctor7 roll, K, ar-

To thesel ranged to rotate in connection with a paste' fount or trough, L. The rolls J and Kv and the fount L are all mounted in a frame, M, which is pivoted at t in xed provisions on the bed of the machine. This frame is supported on a cam-pin, u,which passes through the fixed provision (see Fig. 2) and has a iiattened face, as shown. By turning this pin the frame will be raised, as will be well understood. This device is merely to lift the gumming mechanism up out of the way temporarily, and not automatically.

The doctor-roll K is driven from a shaft, b, through the medium ot' suitable pulleys and belts, but rotating normally opposite the body of the roll J does not rotate the latter, as they are not in` contact; but when at the proper time the roll J is turned slightly by other means, and one of the raised faces s is brought opposite the roll K, the roll J will then lhe rotated for a part of a revolution, or until the raised face passes from contact. In the meantime the opposite raised face will have im' printed the gum or paste it bears upon the envelope which has been carried' under it. addition to this, and to render the operation of the roll J more positive still, I affix to its ends (see Fig. 4) two disks, fw', corresponding in diameter with theroli J,when measured through the raised faces s', and iiatten these disks on opposite sides, as shown, these iiattened faces being set to come opposite the roll K at the proper time, as will be well understood. These disks are merely precautionary devices.

The mechanism I prefer to employ for giving the roll J its partial rotation is best illustrated in Fig. et. On the same shaft on 'which the roll J is iixed is secured a sort of ratchetwheel, m', with but two teeth or notches, and with two pins, y y, projecting from its face. A clam-N, hinged to a horizontally-arranged slider, O, is arranged to hook over one of the pins y', and when the slider is retracted by means ofa cam, P, on the shaft d2, which bears on .or against a hinged lever, Q, connected with said slider, the claw N acts to rotate the roll J far enough to bring a part of its periph! ery into frictional contact with the doctor-roll, when the latter will continue its rotation far enough t'or the claw to engage the other pin y. A delent-spring, z', springs over one ot' the teeth in the ratchet and prevents the roll` from rotating too far or from being started from its proper position, as will be well understood.

The doctor-roll K has a peripheral speed equal to the speed of the belt, and when the belt sets the imprinting-roll in motion the roll K, acting on its opposite side, assists in the operation, it being belted to rotate .in the proper direction. l may employ an Vintermediate distributing-roll between the rolls J and K, if necessary.

The mechanism for folding the bottom iiap and gumming it is arranged next beyond the gumming'roll, and is best illustrated in Figs.

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4 :teresa 6, 7, 8, and 9, where it is shown in the various stages of its operation on a large scale. Fig. 9 shows-the parts in their normal position, and also in the position they assume after the envelope has passed or is passing beyond them to the mechanism for folding the sealing-flap. Let I represent the idler or guide sheaves, around which the belts H pass asthey are led oft' from the apron D. At this point the partlyfinished envelope passes out from under said belts and its advancing bottom flap enters the f'older.

It is the folder, which is constructed. of two thin metal plates, connected at their ends and provided with axial pivots a2. The plates are brought to an edge, and a space is left between them of sufficient width to let the envelope nap pass through. This folder is mounted on its axial pivots in aframe, b2, fixed to a cross-rod, c2, the ends of whichY are fixed in arms d3. These latter arms are hung loosely at their upper ends on the cross-shaft r', as shown. The disposition ot the parts is such that, normally, the folder will stand, as in Fig. 9, with its edge resting on the apron D, and at such an angle with reference to said apron that a slight pressure on itin the direction of travel of' the apron will cause thc folder to bite into the apron and turn over.

Raised from the table-bed and fixed thereon are ledgesfz, on which travel rollers g2, provided with bearings in the arms of the frame b2; and his a spring arranged to bear upon a iiattened boss on thef'older when in its normal position and to keep it steady.

S is a plate hung on orattached to the crossrod c2, and provided with adjustable stops or guides ft2.

T is a curved finger, hung from the shaft o', and arranged to prevent the fiap of the envelope from curling up as it approaches the folder; and U isa bent Wire spring, arranged to bear elastically on the cross-rod c2 at the proper stage of' the folding operation.

As the partly-tolded blank approaches the folder its bottom flap passes up between the plates of the latter until it encounters the guide-stops t2 on the plate S. The pressure it produces is sufcient to drive back the folder and its accessories until they assume the position shown in Fig. 6. The continued pressure ofthe advancing envelope and the friction of' the traveling apron D causes the folder to turn on its axis, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

When the folder-turns to the position shown in Fig.7 its axes lift, as will be well understood, and these axes or axial pivots project through and beyond the arms ofthe frame b2, and when they litt they engage recesses jg in. plates jg, secured adjustably to arms k2, which are hungin bearingslzand kept pressed down elasticallybyaspring,m2. The recesses jz engage the prolonged axes'or points a2, and thus allow the folder to turn in the air,77 so to speak, and prevent the spring U, which is now brought into elastic play, from suddenly.

turning the folderlt and causingitto drag over the gum on the envelope. As thefolder turns it makes the fold at thejunction of the bottom fiap with the envelope-body, and as the operation proceeds (see Fig. S) the pressure from spring Uis relieved, and that from spring h2 comes in play to turn the folder over. In turning over, the folder acts, in conjunction with the apron D, to bear the envelope on and under a bearing-roll, V, which is hung in the free ends of the arms k2. This roll V is pressed elastically down upon the apron D, and when the partly-finished envelope passes under it the bottom fia p is pressed down and securely fastened or gummed, as will be readily understood. t

The roll V may be a plain cylinder, where it is desired to make the cheaper kinds of fiat envelopes; butin making the better kinds, or those where the folds are not fiattened, I employ a roll constructed and arranged to operate as herein shown. In Figs. 10 and -ll I have shown this roll and its accessories on a large scale, the first being a side elevation and the latter a plan.

A shaft, Z` is mounted rotatively in bearings in the arms k2, and the roll Vturns loosely on this shaft. Un the same shaft are fixed-by set-screws, for example-rollers or collars g3, which rest upon the apron I). Through these (which are kept pressed down by the elastic force ofthe springs m2) the shaft Z is rotated by the said apron.

Between theends of the roll V a nd the collars g3 are arranged springs h3. These act in a wellknown way to f'rictionallyconnect the roll with the rotating shaft. The roll has a raised face,

i3, shaped somewhat like the bottom flap of the envelope, but a little larger. This raised face is intended to press down the said flap upon the moist gum as the roll revolves, so as to cause it to firmly adhere and at the same time not crush or- Hatten the end folds ot the envelope. To avoid flattening or crushing the bottom fold, and to insure its being made in IIO the proper place, I also Hatten one face of the roll, as at 7c3. The roll isheld stationary by means of an elastic detent, lwhich is secured to some non-movable part of' the machine at its upper end, and at its lower end it presses gently upon the roll. The tip of the detent engages a recess, m3, in the roll when the latter is inthe position shown in Fig. ll), and prevents it from revolving.

When the rod c2 of the folding mechanism is raised informing the bottom flap it takes under the detent Z3 at the right moment and lifts its tip out of the recess m3. The roll V then revolves, and the flattened face ofthe same coming opposite the bottom fold, as the latter passes under the roll, the said fold avoids being crushed. The raised face i3 ot' the roll then presses down and sticks fast the bottom ap. As the roll continues to revolve the detent Z3 again drops into the recess m3 and stops the roll until the nextI blank is ready to be acted IIS IKZO

on., The collars g3 are abo to the roll when the latteri its raised face.

()`ther formsof detents m stopping the roll; butthat effective. After the envelo the roll Vit encounters t folding the sealing-Hap.' best shown in Figs. l, 2, a

W is a frame arranged t tion, A', of the main frame visions on the frame W ings, the said roll being arr on its shaft n?.

in rig. 1.

a2. fulcrumed at x2.

wz is pressed down at t means of a cam on the s free end of the lever is p cam the folder s2 is borne ward, and when this pres plate is retracted by a sui ably arranged between th as shown in Fig. 1.

ment is drawn back.

strike a stop or stops, z2 the folder s2, with its frat forward, carrying the enve edge of the folder breaks the envelope on the line w joins the body of the euvel fold down between the r rllhis position of the part The fold ofthe se formed, the folder carries t until it is nipped betwec apron D, where it passes The roll X, as before st the shaft-u2, and, with th two cams or cam-wheels, 'at each end of theroll X. i tached rigidly to the roll ranged between the camL roll, and preferably secu produce a frictional atta well understood. The ca tle larger in diameter th their opposite faces are 1 When in their normal in Figs. l and 2, one datt Q Fig. a.

The fran equal in diameter n easured through y be employed for own is simple and has passed under e mechanism for is mechanism is 3. lide on a rear porr table A. In proroll, X, has bearged to turn freely nd 3,) is provided lich extend down on the shaft a2, wing part of the oncentric thereto. tly-curved plate stands'offslightly q2 is oscillated or and forth around anism best shown one arm r2, which ojects an arm, l2, through the seve2, with a lever, e end of the lever proper time by ft d2. When the ssed down by the rward and downreis removed the ble spring, prefer- -able and lever w,

s ont from under bar, Q2, which eX- table and under which at this mosses far enough to At this moment and stops, starts pe with it, and the own the paper of re the sealing-Hap )e and presses this X and the bar y2. s clearly shown in ing-ap being now envelope on down the roll X and the ound the roll E. d, turns loosely on said shaft, rotates fixed thereon-one he cams are not atbut springs a3, arnd the end of the d to one of them, ment in a manner -wheels Y are a littheroller X; but attened, as at b3. sitions, as shown ed face of the cam stands adjacent or opposed to the roll E, and this permits theyroll X to press against the apron D and to be rotated thereby, the cams being held back or stopped by means of a spring-latch, c3, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. l.) which engages one of two pins, diinserted in the, cams on opposite sides ot' the center.

.The latch o3 is held to its place by means of a spring, e3, and it has a curved extremity, which extends back over a suitable projection or provision on the frame q2 or its arms r2.. W`hen the folder s2 has advanced the envelope nearly to the point where the roll X contacts with the apron D, the latch c3 is lifted by the provision on the frame, and the cams Y are freed and allowed to rotate with the roll X; but this brings the full periphery of the cams into contact with the apron D, and the roll X is pressed back therefrom, and the finished envelope is allowed to pass through without being tightly compressed.

The sliding frame W, in which the roll X is hung, also bears two of the guide-sheaves l I for the belt H, and I lind that the elasticity of this belt is generally sutlicient to keep the roll X and the cams Y pressed up to the apron D; but other elastic mediums might be employed, if desired. v

l\ly object-in employing the cams Y and their stop devices is partly to prevent too great compression of the envelope and partly to enable me, when desired, to compress the. fold last formed just as the envelope is nipped between the roller and belt, and then to ease the pressure and let the finished envelope pass through lightly pressed. This mechanism might be omitted in making some kinds of envelopes.

All ot' the parts of the machine-such as the folders, folding-blades, paste-rolls, Ste-which it is necessary to make removable or adjustable for envelopes of different sizes may be so made, and some of these parts are so shown as adjustable. l do not, however, contemplate making the largest and smallest envelopes on the` same machine; but several sizes within limits may be easily made by properly adjusting the parts.

I also wish it understood that l do not conne myselfto the precise arrangement of cams, levers, links, and other common elements of operative mechanism herein set forth, as I am well aware that a skilled mechanician could readily devise other arrangements that would effect like results. Therefore I have not considered it necessary to minutely describe the form of the various cams employed, nor to give the sizes and proportinsof the pulleys, drums, &c. 1t will only be necessary to say that the various moving parts are to 'move in unison, so that each will perform its duty at the right moment.

The machine, as shown, operates upon several blanks at the same time, one being arranged to follow another in close succession. The several blanks in their various stages ot' completion are represented in Fig. 3l.

My mechanism for separatingor individual- ICO IlO

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izin'g the blanks may be employed in separating sheets of paper for various purposes-as, for example, in feeders for printing-presses and ruling-machines. Heretofore the objection to pneumatic feeders has been that the vacuum formed bylifting the top sheet causes the next sheet to adhere to it, and this diiiiculty has been aggravated by the natural tendency of the sheets to adhere to each other from various causes. My device obviates the first of these difficulties by turning back the edge orcorner of the sheetinstead of liftiugit perpendicularly, and the second by bringing a pressure to bear on the pile near the edges or corners of the sheets,whereby they are caused to slightly turn up and separate before the sucker is applied. I may employ one or more of these suckers or nozzles; but one is sufficient for the form of blank commonly employedl for letterenvelopes. The gum for sealing may be applied to the sealing-flap either before or after the envelopes are made and in the usual way.

In lieu of arranging the belts H to twist as they pass through the folders, the folders o o may be dispensed with and the belts be arranged to pass obliquely over the outer edges of thelfolding-blades, but at a very acute angle therewith. By means of this arrangement the end flaps, as the blank is borne along, will be folded over by the intercepting belt precisely as in the arrangement shown, and as the belts move with `the blank they will oppose no opposition tothe forward movement of the latter. Round or flat belts may be employed.

1. rlhe combination, with a vertically-reciprocating presser-foot arranged over the elastically-upheld platform for the blanks, of the said platform, the suction-nozzle hinged to the presser-foot and connected with an air-exhausting mechanism, the said air-exhausting mechanism, and a reciprocating linger or guard arranged to resist the upward pressure of the blank-platform when the presser-foot is raised, all arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, to form a mechanism for separating and removing the blanks one by one from the top of the pile or heap, of the elasticallyupheld platform for the pile of blanks, the vertically-reciprocating presserfoot, the suction-nozzle hinged thereto, the airexhausting mechanism connected with the suction-nozzle, the reciprocating guard or finger arranged to resist the upward pressure of the blank-platform when the presser-foot is lifted, the fixed nger for pushing the blank from the suction-nozzle, and the horizontallyreciprocating carrier for removing the blank after it is lifted, all arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the presser-foot arranged to play in vertical guides or keepers, ofthe suction-nozzle hinged thereto and' normally upheld by a spring, the toggle-links d speed ofthe apron, and arranged to be dropped when the blank is advanced under it by the carrier, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of. the broad endless apron carrying the blank to be folded, the folding-blades arranged over and close to the `carrying-apron, and the narrow flexible foldingbelts, which rest on and move with said apron, and are arranged to turn, by twisting, over on thefolding-blades, whereby a sharp and true fold is made in the blank, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination ot' the broadendless apron D, the two folding-blades n t, arranged over, near to, and parallel with the movement of the said apron, the folders o o, and the two narrow folding-belts H H, arranged to rest on and move with the apron at its front end, and to turn over, by twisting, onto the said folding-blades, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination, with an endless apron for carrying the blank, of stationary folding- ICO blades arranged overthe said apron, fieXible I endless folders or folding-belts, and fixed folders to guide and turn the liexible folders, the latter being arranged to move with the blapk and at substantially the same speed, as set forth.

8. As a means of imprinting on the moving envelope-blank the gum or paste necessary to secure tlfe bottom flap, an imprinting-roll having a raised imprinting-surface and mounted in bearingsover the apron which bears the blank, said roll being provided with a starting mechanism, substantially such as described, whereby the margin or limit of its raised imprinting-surface is brought into contact with the surface of the blank by partial rotation of the roll at the moment the blank reaches the proper position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. The combination, with the paste-trough and revolving doctor-roll, of the'roll for imprinting the gum on the passing envelopeblank, said doctor-roll having a peripheral speed equal to the speed of the apron which carries the envelope-blank, and said gummingroll having raised imprinting-faces, and arranged to be given a partial revolution at the proper moment, whereby its raised imprinting-faces are brought simultaneously into contact with the passing envelope-blank and the IOS IIO

periphery of the doctor-r l, substantially as set forth. y

10. The combination, ith the traveling apron which bears the velope-blank, the paste-trough, the rotatin doctor, and the imprinting-roll of the rat iet sa', fixed to the latter roll or its shaft, th etent-spring z', the claw N, slider O, lever l, and cam P, all arran ged to operate substa ially as set forth.

1l. As a mechanism fo folding the bottom iiap of au envelope or milar receptacle, a folder, R, constructed of wo plates with an opening between them fo the passage of the flap, the said folder bein hung in a swinging frame on axial pivots, an arranged to rest on the apron which bears t envelope-blank, at an angle thereto, and the aid swingingframe being provided with a pl 'e bearing stops arranged to check the passa of theilap through the folder, and thus cau s the apron to turn the folder and fold the p, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination,` n an envelope-machine, of the endless a n D, the folder R, hung on axial pivots in e e frame b2, the plate S, bearing stops 2, the )ring h2, the bar c2, the arms d3, and thespri U, all arranged to operate substantially as t forth.

18. The combination, th the endless apron- D, of the folder R, hun n axial pivots in a swinging frame construe d and provided sub-` stantially as shown, an having a spring, h2, the arms k2, the spring 1 2, the roller V, and the plates js, provided th recesses j?, to receive the ends of the piv i s on the folder,sub stantially as and for the urposes set forth.

f the apron D, the

14. The combination y folder It, having axial pivots or journals, as sl1own,the rollers g2 on said pivots, tbe flanges or Ways f2, the frame b2, the plate S, bearing stops i2, the bar c2, the arms d3 and k2, the springs U, m2, and h2, and the cam-plate j3,all arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

l5. The combination, with the roll V, proflap ofthe envelope, the endless apron D and its drums E E, in combination with a roll, X,

hung in a frame, W, and provided with cam-V Wheels Y, frictionally connected therewith, the swinging frame q2, mounted on arms which have bearings on the axes of the roll X, the folding-plate s2, mounted on said frame q2, and the latch 09, arranged to take over pins d4 in the cams Y, and to be tripped by the swinging frame q2, the said frame being arranged to receive from suitable mechanism an alternate reciprocating movement concentrieally around the roll X, substantially as and for the pur1 poses set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GERARD SIGKLES, JR. Witnesses:

HENRY CONNETT, ARTHUR C. FRASER. 

